Sir Malcolm Rifkind

David Willetts

John Redwood

Liam Fox

David Davis

As the struggle for leadership of the tory party hots up, who would you prefer to see behind the wheel?

Left

Alan Duncan

Rather than tax cuts and small government, he believes in an active state that provides both people's security and effective public services. Socially liberal and openly gay, he is determine to advance the party's equality agenda. Believes livelier presentation is essential.

He says: "As Mrs Thatcher said, direction matters more than detail and passion matters more than policy. If we remember those two things, people will look at us differently." (The Daily Telegraph, July 2004).

Possible backers: yet to emerge.

Tim Yeo

Affable, genteel moderniser who believes the party must popularise new issues such as the growing climate change agenda. Wants the party to rebrand itself radically, possibly even to the extent of a name change, if that is what it takes to win.

He says: "We should be a party that offers more hope and less fear, the party that makes people's dreams come true, the party that tells people the bottle is half full, not half empty." (May 10, 2005).

Possible backers: Robert Key.

Andrew Lansley

Radical moderniser from the Left, with a strong social conscience and keen to rebrand the party. Opposed the war in Iraq.

He says: "In order better to represent the nature of the Conservative philosophy and the people we are, we should no longer describe ourselves as the Tory Partyâ¦We should recognise that we are still Conservatives, but changing, renewing, literally reforming our partyâ¦We should describe ourselves as Reform Conservatives." (The Guardian, 2002).

Possible backers: yet to emerge.

Damian Green

Former Downing Street policy thinker under John Major on the far Left of the party. Architect of controversial decision to oppose student top-up fees. Does not advocate sweeping tax cuts as a priority.

He says: "I am very central in the Conservative traditionâ¦ what people are crying out for are safer streets, better schools and hospitals. They want to know that Conservatives would care as much about them as about tax cuts." (September 2004).

Possible backers: yet to emerge.

Ken Clarke

Wild card candidate, the "lost leader" of the party, on its far Left wing. Traditionally handicapped by his fervent europhile beliefs but admired for his economic dryness. Big-hitter with rare star appeal for the Tories.

He says: "Conservatives should all be social liberals, accepting personal liberty to choose different lifestyles and welcoming the cultural diversity of modern Britain. Bigotry and prejudice have never been part of Conservatism." (June 26, 2001, announcing his candidature for the leadership).

Possible backers: David Curry, Ian Taylor.

Centre

George Osborne

At just 33, rising star of Michael Howard's youth academy from a liberal background, socially tolerant but economically dry. Like fellow emerging talent David Cameron, a member of the Notting Hill set of modernisers.

He says: "I see it as my job to present a modern face of the Tory Party." (May 10, 2005).

Old-school loyalist from the solid Centre-ground of the party, now restored to the Commons. A pragmatist prepared to modernise where necessary to widen party's appeal but firmly pro-individual liberty. Opposed the war in Iraq.

He says: "We must proclaim our belief in libertyâ¦ In the modern context, that must mean a total opposition to imprisonment without trial, to the irrelevance of identity cards and to other authoritarian measures." (The Observer, May 8, 2005).

Possible backers: yet to emerge.

David Willetts

Brainy ex-Downing Street adviser under Thatcher now determined to move the party on to believe in a strong society where the state plays a key role and pushes economic reform.

He says: "We must not fall prey to the libertarian fantasy that all a government has to do is get out of the way and life's problems are solved. A country with too many broken lives and fragmented families is going to depend on public services more." (May 8, 2005).

Possible backers: yet to emerge.

Right

John Redwood

Thatcherite Right-winger, taxcutter and arch-Eurosceptic who believes that he has a mission to lead the party.

He says: "Conservatives will only win when we have reunited the Eurosceptic movement behind our policy." (Singing The Blues, by John Redwood, published autumn 2004).

Possible backers among MPs: yet to emerge.

Liam Fox

Neo-Thatcherite, Eurosceptic moderniser aware that the party needs to reconnect with the inner cities.

He says: "Like it or notâ¦ we live in a largely urban society. From Islington to Inverness, the dominant cultural influences are far more EastEnders than Archers. We need to understand and take account of these influences, or we will find ourselves politically becalmed" (May 10, 2005).

Possible backers: Eleanor Laing, Andrew Rosindell.

David Davis

David Davis

High-profile, early front-runner from the moderate Right, blending Euroscepticism, hard line on crime with low tax and reform of public services.

He says: "Only a low-tax economy will generate the wealth required to pay for secure pensions and better health care." (The Daily Telegraph, May 11, 2005).

MP for Henley-on-Thames since June 2001
Editor of the Spectator since August 1999
Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party (October 2003 - November 2004)
Shadow Minister for the Arts (April 2004 - November 2004)